The future of the evangelical church depends in great part on bivocational ministry. This isn’t a light statement. The work of God’s Kingdom on earth necessitates the efforts of pastors, church planters, and other ministry leaders serving in a bivocational context.

Globally, most Christian evangelical work is carried out by men serving as both tent makers and ministers. Recent trends show many churches experiencing declines in attendance and financial contributions, leading to struggles in providing full-time salaries with adequate benefits for pastors.

While this may be seen as a negative reality, it can potentially turn out to be advantageous for many medium to small-sized churches. Here are four reasons why bivocational ministry should be viewed positively:

  1. Pastors can utilize more of their skills by serving both in the church and the While fully funded pastors are essential in certain settings, most churches with around 200 members or less can be effectively managed by a team of bivocational leaders.
  2. Churches can allocate more resources for outreach and missions when not burdened with full-time salaries.
  3. More church members can participate in ministry when they understand that the pastor, due to other responsibilities, cannot attend every event or visit. This can motivate members to take on tasks that might otherwise fall to the pastor.
  4. Pastors can focus more on equipping the saints for ministry, as taught in Ephesians 4:11-16. By concentrating on their primary responsibilities, they can train, empower, and oversee the saints in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Bivocational ministry isn’t a consolation prize for those serving less resourced churches, nor is it a second-rate calling. It’s a biblical model that can lead to the planting of more churches and help stagnant churches to move from surviving to thriving.

Oklahoma Baptists celebrate bivocational churches and their leaders, and care about their wellbeing and effectiveness. Bivocational pastors can obtain resources and training through the Oklahoma Baptists MVP Ministry and the Haskins School of Christian Ministry.

The Haskins School exists to help train lay, ethnic and bivocational ministry leaders with the expectation that more churches will have effective ministers who know how to lead well, regardless of church size or geographical location.

If you are a bivocational minister or a member of a bivocational church, remember you are not alone. You are part of a massive fellowship of believers called to pray, trust, and serve, allowing the Spirit of God to work through the body of Christ to glorify the Father as the church moves to fulfill the Great Commission.